I am posting this in response to the complaints,many of them may be valid, about Whitby This Week Carriers and delivery. I can only speak to my daughter's experience as a carrier but I imagine that it is not an uncommon one. My daughter has only been a carrier since January. She has delivered her papers every day, on time and since she has begun, more often than not in a snowstorm. She counts her papers, stuffs her inserts...calls if she is missing any and waits around for re-delivery. She heads out thru the snow and makes her way on barely plowed streets, through unshovelled, for the most part, sidewalks and delivers the papers. On her route there aren't many screen doors or mailboxes so she has to leave the papers on the porch. She paid for elastics for her papers and if she wants to use the pink plastic bags she will have to pay for those as well. She has collected twice since she started. The first time barely half the people paid her and the second time...out of a possible 180.00 for 3 weeks work, she received less than 34.00. She pays Whitby This week 15.00 +/_ for her flyers and special insert bundles, she pays for bags and elastics.....She is supposed to get reimbursed by the "TIPS" that she earns every 3 weeks for collection. This is a hardworking 12 year old girl with initiative who is quickly learning that people will complain in an instant but never appreciate things when they go well.She is also learning that hard work is often not valued. She insists on carrying on with this job, in addition to her babysitting, school work and music lessons. I will let her keep up with it for a while and see what happens...but those of you who are home and pretend not to be, those of you who answer the door and say that you aren't paying for a FREE paper...keep these kids in mind when next you complain about the shiftless teens who take everything for granted.
Wish I could suggest to keep reinforcing the benefits but their are some realities to how the world works and how people expect the free paper delivered to them promptly regardless of the weather and regardless if they haven't shovelled a path to their door.
My first job at 11 years old was as a paper boy for the Toronto Star, so I can relate to some of your daughters experiances.
Even when my single parent budget is stretched, I am always happy to 'tip' my paperboy/girl for good service.
Our WTW carrier, Jessica, is the hardest working kid in the neighbourhood. Our paper is always on time. She is polite, responsible and takes her job very seriously. She even delivered the paper on crutches last year!
Give these kids a break. If you are frustrated with the problems that are out of the control of the carriers simply ask the him/her to stop delivering it.
Keep up the good work!
PS - Perhaps we could recycle our bags and give them back to the carrier at collection time. Carrier Mom, would that be helpful?
Agreed ... I always pay the full amount because I think they do a great job and deserve it!
Well these problems must be isolated to the odd carrier as my service is always good. My paper is always in a bag and it's on my doorstep when I think it should be. Never had any issues with my current carrier or the one before that. I always pay more than the minimum every collection period. Nothing is free and I'm happy to give these young entrepreneurs some hard earned money. Throwing the paper from the sidewalk is part of the job if I remember way back when I carried the Star in TO. You just have to practice it. {:-)>
Jabber.
Our carrier is a teenage girl, and her service is nothing to brag about. I have always paid her the full amount although there have been many times when she hasn't deserved it. I can't count the number of times that I haven't received a paper or it has been at least two days late
She is usually walking down the street SMOKING and cursing while hanging out with her friends.
I would love to have a nice polite carrier that we actually looked forward to seeing every week, and would gladly pay the delivery "fee" and then some
Please send Jessica over to Breakwater!!!
Our carrier is alright in the delivery aspect but I get really annoyed when he is collecting. He seems to prefer an after 9:00 collection and although I have asked him several times to not ring the door bell so late (little ones sleeping) he does and not only once. He rings the bell a couple of times if we don't answer. We also have not once got the coupon thing that comes with paying so.... if my collection is after 8:30 I will not be paying.
Just as someone said - please send Jessica over to my route!!!!
It seems to me that the Whitby This Week is taking advantage of the kids and should at least supply them with free elastics and bags.
Yeah.... I'm gobsmacked that they charge the kids for these!
I'd bet at least part of the farm that many people don't realize that 100% of the money collected goes to the carrier. In fact, I'd never heard of such a system until I moved here four years ago. Maybe just a gentle reminder to those people who answer their door but don't pay is all that's needed...
Two thumbs up to my carrier. The paper is delivered on time, and in my mailbox. I'm happy to pay for the great service, and give him a tip. It's great to see the young people out there taking responsibility, and in general doing a great job.
Kellybean,
The way you say that, you make me want to take up delivering papers again!!!
